The US president has warned NATO of a “dark future” if his plea for help with containing the fallout from the Iran war is rejected

President Donald Trump has warned European NATO members of a “very bad future” if they reject his plea for help with securing the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran insists the critical maritime energy chokepoint remains open to everyone – except for “hostile” nations.

Countries that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz “must take care” of securing it, Trump reiterated over the weekend, calling on the UK, France, Japan, South Korea and even China to join “a team effort.”

“If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO,” Trump told the Financial Times.

In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has dared Trump to send in US warships to back his repeated claims that Iran’s navy was “essentially decimated.”

“Didn’t Trump say that Iran’s navy has been destroyed? If so, let him send his ships into the Persian Gulf if he dares,” an IRGC spokesman said.

Here are the latest developments as RT continues to bring you up to date:

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• The Israeli military has reportedly requested government approval to mobilize up to 450,000 reservists, in preparation for a possible ground operation in Lebanon, as the US-Israeli war with Iran has entered its 17th day.

• American attacks on Iran have cost Washington $12 billion so far, the director of the US National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, has said.

• Brent crude has surged to nearly $106 per barrel on Monday, after Trump stated over the weekend that Iran’s Kharg Island was “totally demolished,” but “we may hit it a few more times just for fun,” raising fears of a deeper shock to global energy supplies if the infrastructure on Iran’s main oil export hub is damaged.

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